Denbigh Town’s final away game of 2024 ended in defeat on Saturday as basement side Llay Welfare picked up three points.

Dewi Llion’s side came from behind to lead 2-1 at the break via Owen Davies and a first Denbigh goal for Iwan Roberts, but after the break Llay rallied to reverse the scoreline and win just their second game of the campaign.

Town made three changes to the XI with the return of Aaron Jones, Alfie Vaughan and Keiron Roberts coming into the side, with the latter reclaiming the armband. Meanwhile Gabriel Hinchcliffe made a league squad for the first time after his debut in the Welsh Cup two weeks ago.

Llay began the much brighter side in this contest and threatened Jones’ goal with three minutes played. Harvey Ellis saw the ball fall to him on the edge of the box before striking a half volley goalwards that was pushed aside by Jones.

Four minutes later after consistent pressure the home side took the lead. Town failed to stop a low ball across the face of goal from Jonathan Collo and Sam John was there at the back post to poke home.

On 15 minutes things went from bad to worse for Denbigh when Biensio Kamilo was through on goal chasing a long ball over the top and Jones rushed out only to wipe out the forward and the referee pointed to the spot. Collo stepped up but Jones guessed right to make a brilliant stop.

This appeared to spark Town to life who suddenly got forward with a purpose, and less than two minutes after the failed spot-kick Vaughan played a superb ball into the box for Davies to get on the end of and level.

It now looked like Denbigh were the side in the ascendancy and could have taken the lead on 20 minutes when Iwan Roberts made inroads into the box on the right before laying it to Nathan Brown, but his effort deflected wide.

Roberts proved to be a thorn in the side of Llay and popped up five minutes later to find the net. Vaughan again the provider fed the Town forward who smashed home from an angle.

Not to be outdone Davies had another opportunity before the break when again Vaughan fed the ball over the top but his effort from an acute angle was blocked for a corner.

Half-Time: Llay Miners Welfare 1-2 Denbigh Town

After the break you knew the next goal was vital and it wouldn’t take too long to discover who’d get it. Forward Collo put his penalty miss to the back of his mind three minutes into the restart when he met a cross with acres of space in the box to nod the equaliser.

Two minutes later Denbigh almost restored their lead when Vaughan did well down the left flank before bringing the ball to the box and forcing a save from the keeper. Brown was next in line for a chance seven minutes later when Davies did well on the turn on half way to find the winger but his attempted lob from distance was easily matched.

However, Denbigh’s second-half collapse came to fruition with 66 minutes played when Keiron Roberts hacked down Collo in the box and the referee pointed to the spot once more. Ellis stepped up and Jones was beaten this time to give Llay the lead for the second time in the game.

Denbigh tried to switch things up adding the energetic Tom Salisbury and Cal Butler to the fray but Denbigh struggled to test the Welly custodian in search for their third. The hosts almost put it to bed four minutes into the eight added when Scott Swords ran through but Ben Lockley made an excellent tackle to give Town a glimmer of hope.

However, full-time came marking Town’s final trip of the calendar year and continues a half-century-long run of winless matches at the Ring.

Denbigh Town: A.Jones, Williams, Cooke, Lockley, Vaughan, S.Jones, K.Roberts, I.Roberts, Brown, Duffy, Davies

Subs: Wilmot, Stark, Butler, Hinchcliffe, Salisbury

Referee: Patrick Wilding

Attendance: 90

POTM: Sion Jones - An impressive display in the middle of the park where he was forced to battle and tidy up play throughout.